MEDIATED PERFECT BODY IMAGES AND WOMEN: UNDERSTANDING ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN CREATING PRESSURES ON YOUNG WOMEN FACING HEIGHT, WEIGHT AND COMPLEXION STIGMA

Abstract

The mediated images of perfect body create concerns for its consumers. Such mediated images set some ideal and unrealistic standards of body features especially about weight, height and complexion that marginalize the individuals. The stigmatization of body features and beauty standards posits certain expectations in society. The social media is crucially becoming responsible for propagating the ideal and perfect body images due to its availability and wide consumption.  So, this research study tends to understand the role of social media in creating pressures on young women and also how the lives of women facing weight, height and complexion stigma are being affected due to different kind of pressures. The exploratory research design with in-depth interviews as research method was opted. The research study revealed that women generally face lots of pressures due to mediated perfect body images and they also face body shaming when they are not meeting the expected beauty standards. The women find mediated body images very stereotypical and there are many stigma associated with body images. The practices of body shaming create certain pressures on women from families, peers and social media. Such pressures includes psychological and physical pressures that creates marital issues, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, negative feelings, insecurities, self- complexes, depression, loneliness, anxiety and eating disorders.

Keywords: Mediated body images, Social media, Social pressures, Stigma, Women